[quote=TheGoodTexan]
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Originally Posted by Joel Terry
I just don't know what those folks over at Gibson are thinking these days...it seems they're not thinking at all, doesn't it?
Joel
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Originally Posted by "TheGoodTexan
As a former member of the Gibson sales staff, I can attempt to explain this.
Several times a year, they look at their production figures, versus their sales figures. When they have a specific color in a less expensive model that is out selling everything else, they will temporarily discontinue it, in an attempt to create artifical demand for the same color in the more expensive model.
In 1995 they even discontinued the LP Classic altogether, because it was far out selling the more expensive LP Standard in all colors. They brought it back in 1998, in limited colors.
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That makes perfect marketing sense (hell, I'm in marketing, so I can say that). It's the same rationale Disney uses when they yank DVDs off the shelves for a number of years. First, it creates a groundswell of last-minute sales in anticipation of this artificial restriction and , second, it creates anticipation for the next re-release of the same stuff in ten years or so, when another generation of parent's'll be happy to plonk donk the bucks.
Of course, Ebay has made this whole practicle totally irrelevant, since there will still be plenty of supply of these things in the secondary market for years to come.
Applies to sunburst classics, you'll probably see a quick run-up of sales of current models leading up to the discontinuation, but you'll no problem finding one anywhere if you really want one.
I, for one, love my Classic. It's a heavily flamed Classic Plus, rather than a "standard" Classic, but I love the thin neck--perfect for my short, stubber fingers.
Jeff in Boston